The first thing 9 out of 10 people who walk into my studio say to me is: “I am not photogenic”.

Over the past 20 years I have learned to listen and nod in agreement. Young or old, thin or full figure, bold or a full head of curls – it doesn’t matter. Pretty much all of us think we are not photogenic.

When I was 16 I had the great fortune of getting cast on the Israeli version of Glee/Saved by the bell television show. I loved acting and was so excited to be on the show. My character on the show had all kinds of issues she was dealing with, and so in most episodes I would deliver these heartbreaking speeches with a serious face while tearing up. I still remember the day all that changed. It was when the writer of the show came to visit the set while we were filming. He was very cute, but cuteness aside – he knew TV, and I valued his opinion. So after capturing on film yet another heartbreaking tale by my character which I delivered flawlessly, tears and serious face and all, I walked up to him and asked: “what do you think?” The writer’s reply was: “Great as always, Rinat!”. But as I turned to walk away he added, almost as a side note: “You look much prettier when you smile”. That shocked me. I just never thought of that before. I went back on set for another take of that scene, and I’m going to give you one guess as to what you think changed from the previous takes…yes, you got it – I delivered the complete heart-wrenching speech – with a big smile on my face! To this day, if I ever come across this scene (they still show it on re-runs in Israel) I laugh to myself. The things we do to look good in front of the camera.

Me, 16 years old on the Israeli TV show, the take BEFORE I learned that I apparently look prettier when I smile

Yes, we all want to look our best in front of the camera. But don’t we anyway?

The dictionary definition of Photogenic is:”Looking attractive in photographs or on film“. It’s not “a person with a nose too big for his face” or “a young lady with braces”. So why, oh why have we decided we are not photogenic? Are we not attractive? In who’s opinion? Let me go ahead and answer these questions collectively: Of course we are ALL attractive. Because attractiveness is not about missing or having a specific feature.

It’s about how we feel. Research shows that men and women rate confidence as a very attractive trait (Buunk, Dijkstra, Fetchenhauer, & Kenrick, 2002). Are you hearing this? I said confidence. Not blue eyes. Not slender arms. Confidence. When we are happy in our own skin – it shows – In life and on camera, because, and this old saying is correct – the camera doesn’t lie.

So please remember that next time you come into my photography studio for your close up. When my clients walk in, after they tell me they are not photogenic, and I quietly nod, I ask them: “Have you ever had a photo taken of you that you liked?” They usually look surprised when I ask that, raise their eyebrows and say “sure”. When I ask for more details about that shot, I usually find out they were feeling particularly good about themselves the day that photo was taken. Confidence it is then.

My clients come to me because they know I have the knowledge and experience to help them feel and look good during the portrait session in front of the camera – which will translate into great portraits.

The problem starts when you are in front of a non-professional photographer holding a camera – the smartphone wanna be button clicker. Since it’s never about the camera, and all about the lighting and the posing (yes, even a natural looking pose is still created by a professional photographer’s guidance), most of these snapshots come out painfully awkward.

Here are the top 5 reasons that, in my opinion, we think we are not photogenic:

Reason #1. The “photographer”, AKA Smartphone camera button pusher, has no idea how to help you look your best – they place you in bad lighting and never mention your shirt has a big stain on it. Good luck with that!

Reason #2. This one goes deep. After years of reveal sessions with my clients sharing the proofs of their portrait session, I realized that many times – it’s not about the photo. It’s about the fact that we don’t accept ourselves. It has nothing to do with how you look and all to do with how you feel about yourself. For that I suggest that you do some deep soul searching before your portrait session. I am a huge believer in life coaching as it has fundamentally changed my life and made my life oh so much better in so many ways I could not have ever imagined was possible. After years of being life coached I learned to be a life coach myself and now offering the unique perspective of life coaching using photographs – you can read more about it in my life coaching website:

Reason #3. The last time you had your portrait taken you had zits – now you have wrinkles. Back to the fact that the camera does not lie, it sure does shows the changes time brings. I suggest you learn to embrace aging for two reasons: 1, if we are lucky, it happens to all of us – so there is no escaping it, may as well embrace it 2. Some of the most attractive people I photographed were NOT 15 with perfect skin. We are beautiful at any age, as long as we allow ourselves to be.

Reason #4. You are not comfortable in front of the camera. Well, really, why should you be? I mean, common, if you are in front of a camera you are about to get shot. Yes, this type of “shoot” is not going to kill you, but it sure sometimes sure feels like you are standing there naked with your soul at hand. It goes back to feeling confident and letting go of control, which is two of the hardest things for us to do as humans who live in such a critical society.

Reason#5. You have no idea how to pose. And the button pusher has no idea how to guide you. Or let you know that the way you stand makes you look really funny. Oy. Now that is painful to see.

In effort to break the photogenic myth, and in consideration of the fact that pretty much every 4 years old is a Smartphone photographer, I created this short video with 5 tips to help you get some great snapshots that you will LOVE – no matter who is capturing it! click here to watch, and please help me break the photogenic myth – share this blog post and video with anyone you ever heard saying “I am not photogenic”.

Want more posing tips? For the month of September 2018, I am offering the “I AM NOT PHOTOGENIC” studio portrait special. Come into the studio and let’s capture the best studio portrait you ever had! If you are the one always behind the camera (yes I am talking to you, mom) because you hate how you look in photos – remember that the holidays are around the corner – come into the studio for a family session this September and let me help you look your amazing self in your family portraits. As a “Thank you!” for booking the session you will receive an 11×14 mounted and framed portrait ready to go on your wall – because I KNOW you ARE photogenic! Use the CONTACT page on my website to request more info about “I AM NOT PHOTOGENIC” studio session – I look forward to showing you how photogenic you are.

The one thing that always happens before a photo shoot – and ALWAYS catches my clients by surprise – is the pre-photo shoot emotional meltdown they experience.

Usually it comes in the form of a text or an email the day before we are scheduled to photograph. My client is asking to reschedule. “The dog ate my homework” laundry list of excuses ranges from “I didn’t get a chance to get my hair done” to “I can’t make it tomorrow because I need an emergency eye surgery”.

When we talk some more, the truth always comes out.

They are scared.

Of course they are scared. Standing in front of a camera is one of the most vulnerable things you could ever do. It also involves trust – trusting the person who is photographing you that they will make you look good.

Not an easy emotional task, that’s for sure. Did you know that the Native Americans did not agree to be photographed? They believed a photograph captured their soul. I can see why they believed that. It kind of does.

As we all know – the camera doesn’t lie. In fact, it pretty much is all about “In your face, truth!”. Facts we like to tell ourselves little white lies about – like “I didn’t gain any weight in the past year”. Or: “I have a full head of hair and there is no bold spot up there”. Or my personal favorite white lie I tell myself: “My teeth are pearly white” – all these stories come crashing into the great wall of reality check before a photo shoot, as our mind realizes that after the photo shoot tomorrow there will be nowhere to hide from the truth any longer.

And so, the logical decision to make is – cancel the photo shoot. Forget it ever happened. And keep living a lie.

Or…

How about we consider what is behind door #2? Yes, it is scary; we don’t know what’s behind it. Yes, it means we will have to face the truth. But – and stay with me here even though you are already so uncomfortable just reading this –

How about you be vulnerable and trust the professional you hired?

To me, being a professional photographer doesn’t just mean I have the best photography equipment. It doesn’t just mean I know how to technically get a perfectly exposed capture.

Being a professional photographer means to me that I know how to capture my clients best self. I know how to bring out the sleeping beauty inside a woman who tells me she is not photogenic or the handsome man under the insecure fellow who walks into my studio.

And if we are photographing on location – in your location – be it your home or office or spaceship – part of my job is to make the space look good for the shoot. Being a professional photographer means to me that I know how to set up your location in a way that compliments the shot – and hides the mess and the dust bunnies – or the spaceship’s peeling paint job.

If you are reading this article, chances are you are one of my clients. So before you pick up the phone to text me that the dog ate your makeup/ tore your tie up and you just can’t make it to the photo shoot – read this carefully.

And remember – part of being a professional photographer means to me that I am here to talk you off the ledge. So if you still need to hear my voice explaining to you why your upcoming photo shoot is going to be one of the best life experiences you have ever had – call me.

Going to Vegas to create 10 branded lifestyle portraits as part of a Photo Marketing Strategy for some of Elite Marketing Pro‘s top clients during their No Excuses 8 Summit presented me with quite a challenge. How do I convince 10 strangers who never heard of me before to trust that I know how to create a branded engaging relevant photo for them to connect with their target audience?

Well, lucky for me, I like challenges. So it took some serious logistics, phone meetings across time zones (and one Skype meeting with Japan), but we came out to Vegas with a plan – and the relevant props – to help us create a branded lifestyle portrait THAT ROCKS! Here are some of my favorite shots from this non stop – running around – location scouting – dragging equipment – capturing some great shots.

And no, I don’t have any photos of how I was asked politely by a police officer to leave the property. Twice. During a photoshoot. What can I say – it happens to all photographers at one point or another. To some photographers more frequently than others, but we won’t get into that.

#WalkAMileInHerShoes was what I thought when hearing @Brandy Shaver’s “Why”. Why she is in the online marketing business, and how she got there. Immediately I thought of the location scouted earlier that day, and when we went there I placed her shoes – oldest to the newest pair (Brandy is carrying in her hand) in the spotlight the sun provided (thank you sun!). Here is a sneak peek from her #PhotoMarketingStrategy .

So…we were having SO MUCH fun on this #Photoshoot ! Vicki Sowa was sooooo surprised when that champagne bottle popped, I could not have planned her expression better! PERFECT for #branding her business tagline – Celebrate every moment! Here is a sneak peek from her #PhotoMarketingStrategy

Cary Gammon loves playing golf. He also loves helping people through his online business. We combined these two loves by writing Cary’s marketing cornerstones he teaches his clients – on golf balls. Here is a sneak peak of his #PhotoMarketingStrategy

In #PhotoMarketingStrategy it’s all about translating the brand’s background story into a compelling photo. With Ed & Brenda Zimbardi I got them to talk about the years they have been together, about their children and how they met – and soon enough they were smiling from the heart. Which was perfect – because everything they do is from the heart. Including running their business. See more about Ed and Brenda on their website here:http://edzimbardi.com/about-ed/

When Joe Petri explained to me the meaning behind his #SpartanResurgence concept, I knew he had to bring the shield he owns to our photo shoot in Vegas. And, as any good superhero would do – he brought it! Here is a sneak peek from our #PhotoMakretingStrategy photoshoot

For me, the biggest accomplishment in these photoshoots was not how great the shots turned out, or how accurately they represented these small businesses. Even though these two facts were highly important, of course. To me, what was most important is at the end of each photo shoot the client turned to me and said “This was fun!”. Most of them went from not really wanting to have their photo taken – to by the end of the photoshoot feeling they had a great experience.

And that, right there – is the magic powder that creates great photographs.

Here are some fun behind the scenes photos of our intense 10 back to back branded lifestyle photoshoots in Vegas. BTW, these shots were taken by my assistant – my wonderful boyfriend Mike who took time off his busy schedule to come out and help me, holding the reflector and dragging lights all over God’s creation. First time I ever had a pilot as my assistant…what can I say? I am a #LuckyGirl

Year round, photography is my profession. I am always thankful for that fact, and that this is how I have been making a living for the past 17 years.But this time of year is when I reflect on what a miracle this is. Considering the fact that I never wanted to be a photographer. The only reason I took photography in college in the first place was because no other “real” classes were available my first semester in OSU. Who would have guessed that I would fall in love with this craft? That I would be lucky enough to capture life joys for clients in a way that would make them smile from the heart every time they look at these photos? That I would be able to reflect to people through my camera lens how beautiful they truly are, the beauty they just don’t see in themselves. Who would have guessed that I would have a box of tissues ready in my meeting room because every single one of my clients would shed happy tears looking through their wedding album for the first time?Not me. I would have never guessed. And what I learned so far is that if I have to choose between money and love – I would choose love every single time. Because money can’t manifest love, but love sure can manifest money, and so much more. I am living proof of that, serving clients whom I love, and they love me. Clients who come back year after year allowing me to document for them their life’s milestones. From calming down a nervous young man before he pops the question, as I am there to capture that moment, to the joy of capturing engagement photos, to looking into the eyes of a stressed bride right before she walks down the aisle, holding her hand, and reminding her that her best friend is waiting for her at the end of this walk. And seeing a smile of relief on her face as she realizes I am right.To sharing the joy of my client’sgetting pregnant, and capturing all the wonderful memories of their baby’s first year. To fun holiday family portraits as their family expands.To creating a photo marketing strategy for clients as they decide to take the plunge and start their small business. To sharing the joy of photography by teaching my clients how to take better pictures as we go on a group photo tour.To chasing my client’s beloved pets around the studio to capture their pet portrait, to be invited to photograph wedding anniversaries. And birthdays. And high school senior pictures.And this is just a partial list.

This time of year I feel that I am the luckiest woman in the world. Not having a family of my own at this point in my life, not being able to show off pictures of my children – I am SO proud to show off pictures of YOUR children that I photogrpahed!I am grateful that I’m invited to witness, be part of, and capture all these incredible life moments you live. Thank you for trusting me with capturing your precious moments.Becuase, to me – being your photographer, is nothing but a small miracle.Happy Everything!With love,Rinat

Please visit my WEBSITE to see the packages & pricing information for the different photography products and services I offer

When is the last time you got something in the mail except bills and ads? I mean, something that really got you excited and made you happy?

I realized that on my last birthday when unexpected greeting cards came in the mail. It made me so happy to open the envelope, and glee with excitement to read these love notes. A couple of cards even made me tear up. And I hung all the cards I received on my pantry door in my kitchen, where they hung for months and months after my actual birthday, reminding me that I am loved.

Honestly, one hand written greeting card made me happier than 300 people posting Happy Birthday on my Facebook wall. Why is that, I wondered.

In this virtual world we live in it seems we all live online, and the hand written word is disappearing quickly. But the value of putting pencil to paper, of someone’s familiar handwriting, the feel and smell of the paper it is written on – that is so valuable. Because that is what makes us human, separates us from a machine, and connects us on a personal level. And all this is lost when using a virtual greeting instead.

Another thing that is lost in a virtual greeting is – the greeting. I mean, how many of you scroll back to see your birthday wishes after your birthday has passed? I am going to venture to guess none of you do that. But if you had a hand written card? Would you throw it out the day after your birthday? Or would it be sitting proudly on your desk for months after you received it?

As a professional photographer I am now preparing for the holiday season coming up sooner than we realize. Starting October I will be busy with capturing family sessions, to ensure I have their portraits ready to be put on holiday cards and mailed out to their loved ones to be received in time for the holidays.

Because no email or Facebook post will ever replace the feeling you get when you walk to your mailbox and between the bills and junk mail find a hand written envelope addressed to you – and inside it is a card that not only has a beautiful photograph on it of this family you love so much – but also a hand written note, to you, telling you they are thinking about you during this holidays season, and that you are loved.

I am going to bet that you would wallpaper your fridge with these holiday cards! Because they are tangible, and therefore have the ability to make you feel connected with your loved ones no matter how far away they are physically from you. They just send you their essence in this holiday card – and you can feel it.

Happy holiday season everyone!

NOW BOOKING 2016 HOLIDAY PORTRAITS, Contact Rinat to book your holiday portrait session available in the greater Orlando Florida area at 407.607.3297 or http://rinathalon.com/family/

So I’ve been checking out the dating sites lately. So far a date didn’t come out of it – but a blog post did! Guys, these tips are mostly for you (well, because these are the profiles I’ve been checking out) but ladies – most of these tips apply to you as well.Tip #1 – LET ME SEE YOUR FACE!!! You took the time and created a profile, wrote about yourself and what you are looking for in a woman, then you posted pictures of yourself – wearing a baseball cap. Or sunglasses. Or – my favorite – both! How can I see what you look like? You know what the Muslim women wear, that black headscarf? It’s called a burqa. You may as well wear one of those over your head.Tip #2 – WHICH ONE IS YOU? Don’t post a photo of you with another guy. I mean, I guess it can be entertaining to set up a date and see which of the two guys in the photo shows up, but most women just won’t take the chance of finding out you are the guy in the photo she did NOT like.Tip #3 – PUT SOME CLOTHES ON! Seriously, leave something for the imagination. Those half naked selfies in the bathroom are just an absolute no no. Where is your mother? I would like a word with her.Tip #4 – OH THAT LITTLE DOT IS YOU? This is not a “Where’s Waldo?” game. I mean, the landscape surrounding you is beautiful, but I think I’m just going to skip the date, and go take a nature stroll.Tip #5 – AVOID SELFIES – guys, don’t know why, but most of you look scared in your selfies. That kind of freaks me out, should I be scared too? On that note, ladies – enough with the selfies too. If you insist on shooting a selfie then at least – for the love of God – don’t do the duck lips face.Tip #6 – OH YOUR WIFE IS SO PRETTY! Don’t post a photo of you with a woman on your profile. What am I suppose to think? Why would you want to go out with me, you already have your arm over another women’s shoulder.Tips #7 – ARE YOU HUGH HEFNER? And definitely, definitely don’t post a photo of you with MANY women around you. Other guys think a player is cool. Women? We don’t.So, which photo you should post, you ask?

Just a natural environment shot of you (that someone else took) having fun, looking relaxed, and in your zone. And if you don’t have such photos hire the services of a professional photographer. It’s worth it. Because it will be the reason that me – or another woman – would say to herself “hey, I want to meet this guy!”

For the month of February Rinat is offering a $100 dating site portrait special! CONTACT RINAT to have your profile portrait taken in a handpicked, secluded outdoor location, and get a retouched online ready image file that will make them want to VIEW, FAVORITE, LIKE AND CONNECT!

*The people in these photographs are not related to a dating web site. These are some street photography I shot for a magazine. However, these are real people I met on the street and photographed them just as they were. I am showing these here as examples of good natural pictures that would work great for a dating site.

The next step after you book a session with me, is to discuss what to bring with you to your session. There are no set rules, but I do have some guidelines. Here is what I advise my clients on what to bring with them to the session:

Apparel – generally speaking, the camera does not like anything with strips (horizontal or vertical). I shy away from big prints, as I want the focus to stay on your faces, and do not want the very cool shirt you are wearing to take attention away from you. I love colors and I think they photograph beautifully. A solid color shirt that compliments your complexion can illuminate a photo beautifully. The classic black is always a winner, as is the clean white. It all depends on the location (studio vs. the outdoors) and the purpose of your portrait. If you have a shirt, or an outfit that makes you feel like a million bucks when you wear it – it’s probably a good idea to bring with you to the session. I always tell my clients to bring more than options they need – it’s better to have more to choose from than not enough. And then I always laugh, as one after another my clients show up at my doorstep with a suitcase – makes me wonder what my neighbors are thinking…

Hair and makeup – it’s a great idea to have your makeup done professionally before the photo session, and I highly recommend it. With that said, it is an additional expense to take into consideration. You can find makeup artist in the department stores. I have a few professional makeup artists I work with who will do a wonderful job not only to make you look better, but also to make you feel better. Professional makeup is also good for men portraits as it eliminates the shine on the face and head. Hair style is also important. You want to get a haircut not more than one week before the session – give your hair time to adjust and fall naturally. If you style your hair a certain way do not change it right before the session – you may not like it. If you want to have more than one hair style for your photos, and want to ensure your hair is perfect for the session, invest in a hair & makeup artist – it will be worth it.

What else to bring? – Well, anything that pertains to the session. I once had a realtor come to the studio for a headshot on a rainy day. After we shot the traditional headshot, I asked her to take a few pictures with her umbrella – it matched her outfit perfectly! Guess which was her favorite photo of the session? Bring anything that will tell your story better, from your dog, to a necklace that is meaningful to you. At the end of the day, this is your portrait, to reflect this point and time in your life – how would you like to remember it?